MUSIC

Honolulu Jazz Quartet sets sights on mainland

Ever since the release of their best album to date, "Tenacity," the Honolulu Jazz Quartet has vowed to take their music across the Pacific to do some West Coast dates.

That's become a reality, but the band still needs to raise funds to help defer the costs of travel and lodging. So they and some special guests will be gathering next Thursday to do just that, at the popular Studio 6 in the Musicians Association of Hawaii union building.

Admission to the 7 p.m. concert will be $20. The studio is located on the second floor of the building on 949 Kapiolani Blvd. Call 383-3909.

(The tour, from Sept. 17 to 27, will include stops in San Diego, Los Angeles, Monterey, Sonoma, and possibly Seattle.)

LAST CHANCE

Art song contest winners to play on public radio

Hawaii Public Radio presents the winners' recital from its 10th annual art song contest Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the station's Atherton Performing Arts Studio on 738 Kaheka St.

The recital will be recorded and broadcast on "Great Songs" in late December.

Tickets for the recital are $10 general admission and $5 for military, seniors and students with ID. For reservations, call 955-8821.

FAMILY

Scavenger hunt to benefit anti-cancer fight

In a quest to fight blood cancers, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has teamed up with Ravenchase Adventures to host an adventuresome scavenger hunt.

The Illuminati Fundraiser kicks off at 7 p.m. Saturday at an undisclosed location in Waikiki, which will be revealed in the first clue. On location, each team receives a handmade treasure map, a set of parchment clues and a bag of tools and gadgets to help them on their journey.

The game ends when the last clue reveals a secret location where participants celebrate with drinks and share their tales of adventure.

The top teams are awarded "fabulously tacky" prizes.

Tickets are $30; children free. Visit www.ravenchase.com and click on public hunts, Hawaii, or call 534-1222.

FREE ADMITTANCE

First Friday greening up Downtown Honolulu

September's First Friday brings some green to the urban landscape of Downtown Honolulu. Over at rRed Elephant Café, the National Tropical Botanical Garden showcases some of its exciting "X-peditions" from 6 to 10 p.m., as researchers share their experiences of dangling from cliffs and journeying into remote Pacific island villages.

Around the corner at Pacific Traditions Gallery, landscape designer Stephen Haus will be on hand to autograph copies of his book "Gardens of Hawaii," from 6 to 9 p.m. The Shakti Dancers will perform in costumes designed by Haus that represent garden designs.

Meanwhile, the ARTS at Marks Garage opens "Legacy," a group show that's part of the Fourth Annual GiRL FeST Hawaii. A reception runs from 6 to 9 p.m.

The First Friday gallery walk commences 5 to 9 p.m. in the Chinatown district with more than 30 participating art galleries, restaurants and other venues, as well as after-hour events that continue late into the night. Call 521-2903.

FOOD

Shigezo

1018 Kapahulu Ave. / 737-8081

There's not much sexy about tofu, so anyone who wants to try to tart up this spongy soy food has my respect. At Shigezo, soy and sushi star and, naturally, there's a lot of crossover of the former into the latter.

The space itself is up to date (taking over from the former Cafe 808), spare and elegant yet still has a pleasant come-as-you-are vibe. Owners Kazuhiro and Ayumi Maruko have been good at stirring up enthusiasm for the restaurant with a series of weeklong minifestivals highlighting various ingredients.

The sushi selections range from basic tekka and nigiri rolls to fancier rolls like the Diamond Head (avocado, cucumber, crab, tuna and smelt egg) and Crunchy (shrimp tempura, crab, cucumber, kaiware sprouts and burdock), both selling for $6.50.

Those taking baby steps in getting to know tofu might try the tofu kalua cake ($12.50). This struck me as more of a breakfast creation, as family friendly as a Denver omelet. Tofu's scrambled here with a small dice of onions, bell peppers and, supposedly, kalua pig. I didn't really taste or see the meat, but maybe it fused with the bacon wrapped around the timbale assemblage.

The restaurant is across the street from Go Bannanas, where you're allowed to park for Shigezo after 5 p.m., perfectly timed for the restaurant's hours of 5:30 to 11 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.